Ben Affleck Punished for Being Too Good at Blackjack

Ben Affleck is a smart guy, and this week his smarts got him into a little bit of trouble. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has asked that Affleck never again play blackjack in its establishment because he's simply "too good" at the game.

According to some sources, Affleck, who has shown his skill at blackjack in the past, was accused of counting cards, a practice that casinos really don't like. Other sources say that Affleck was merely asked to leave because he was doing so well, and that he's welcome to come back to the Hard Rock to play games other than blackjack.

Card counting is a strategy that skilled players use to keep track of which cards have been played, thereby estimating the chances that they'll be dealt a winning hand. It's not cheating, and it's not illegal anywhere in the United States, provided that the player doesn't use any kind of device or the assistance of another person to keep track of cards. The problem is that card counting diminishes the overwhelming advantage that casinos have over unskilled players, so gambling establishments are motivated to intimidate, ban or otherwise hinder card counters.

In New Jersey, casinos are prohibited from banning players for counting cards, so perhaps Affleck should move his game to Atlantic City.